Thanks again. I have downloaded the 3000M manual and I will try to help him get the test program going. Once the control accepts the program then MLC should be able to tweak the post and all should be well. Does the DXF option come standard or is it an add on package? You know.. more money for the software. The control sounds similar to the Soouthwestern Industries we use on our knee mill and our post for it work fine. So I am a thinking the post for the Anilam should also. Most of his work will be simple 2 axis with a little surfacing work. Thanks

Thanks ablucra! I have emailed both files and he should give them a try today. Excuse my ignorance about the anilam control but.. Do you have to convert the file that mastercam produces to "draw" the part? Machine the part? or both? Or does the conversion happen in the background and then you can save the output and it would be of the conversational format? Thanks for you time and help. ducati

ablucra, Do you( or anyone else) see the problem with the syntax error or the arc line? Thanks

I am trying to help develop some programs to run on a friend mills. He is in another state and only knows how to do the conversational programing. yeah I know.... my dealer is helping develop the post for X4 but needs me to edit out any errors so it will at least run. Problem is I know almost nothing about editing. The control does not accept the line 17 give a syntax error when trying to draw the arc and I dont know enough to edit the file and send it back to the dealer to finish the post. And yes the person running the mill knows even less. The part is a simple 1 inch square. Upper right hand corner has a .25 radius. Part zero is the upper left hand corner. Problem seems to be a syntax error with the arc. I have cut and pasted the file in a text form below if anyone would like to offer some help I sure would appreciate all I can get. Once we have the corrected then my dealer should be able to finish the post for a few more test. As always Thanks for your patience and help. *T Unit Inch Dim Abs Tool# 0 Rapid Z0.0000 U0.0000 Mcode 5 Rapid X0.000 Y0.000 Tool# 1 RPM 2000 Mcode 3 Rapid X.0000 Y.0000 U0. Rapid Z2.0000 Rapid X.0000 Y.0000 Z.1000 U0. Line X.0000 Y.0000 Z-.2500 U0. Feed 10. Line X.7500 Y.0000 Z-.2500 U0. Feed 20. Arc Clockwise X1.0000 Y-.2500 Z-.2500 U0.R.2500 Line X1.0000 Y-1.0000 Z-.2500 U0. Line X.0000 Y-1.0000 Z-.2500 U0. Line X.0000 Y.0000 Z-.2500 U0. Line X.0000 Y.0000 Z-.1500 U0. Feed 100. Rapid X.0000 Y.0000 Z2.0000 U0. Tool# 0 Mcode 5 Dim Incr Rapid G28 Z0. Rapid G28 X0. Y0. U0. EndMain *05-04-10 10:02 %

I have done some back reading of threads on the older Southwestern Ind machines but still need a little help. Our post for the MX3e and AGE mills seem to work OK on simple contours and pockets. I would like to be able to program some threads using either a thread mill or a single point type tool to cut ID and OD threads. Now I have to program at the control using a series of mill in, helix up, mill out, the repeat with a smaller(larger) helix until I get to my finish diameter. Our newer SW control has conversational threading and seems to take the X4 post OK. We have the DNC option but I dont mind just posting out the threading to keep the file size small(Floppy Drive). Would setting the files to control instead of computer help? Linerize help? As always Thanks

Tried the regenerate display command .. sometimes it works.. sometimes it still leaves the model in wire form and does not display it as a model until verify. Kinda odd.. not consistent error. Thanks for the help

using win XP Pro latest sp. MC 4 MU2 When I bring a model.(Inventor ipt) into mastercam, then xform translate the Z axis to make the top of my part Z zero, I lose the solid. i.e., It will display a wire frame for chaining and backplot but not the solid. When I go to verify, I get the solid graphics. Anyone having the issue? Spoke with my dealer and he has run across several folks with similar issue. Any thoughts? I can do a Zip2Go if need. Thanks

Thanks for the help.. MasterCam Support tech folks are looking into it for me... seems the deal on the computer from a "friend" had some old MX software on it... the emulator type. Remove all the old files on programs.. still have some windows issues but may be on the right track.. just not there quite yet. Thanks

First time to try this. It may work tho. http://s844.photobucket.com/albums/ab7/ducati955/ Thanks

I found this on a search of drive. I have a run32DLL.exe in my C:I386 folder dated 2002 with an X4 icon... seems kinda strange. trying to put a screen print of it in this note. but it doesnt seem to work.

from orig disk.. then I have the mu2 file for updating. Thanks.. like windows does not know where the .exe file is.. but it is in the correct folder. Thanks

well, downloaded xp pro sp 3 and reinstalled it.. still cant seem to interface to find the X4 .exe file.. maybe some run 32 dll issues ...I just dont know... out of my expertise... course . alot things are... any windows folks got any ideas? Thanks

removed all versions of mastercam, numerous reboots, ran cc cleaner, removed mccamx folder, reinstalled X4, when I try to run it splash screen says... Getting EXE path... then windows error msg comes up ".EXE not Valid!" I must be missing some sort of Window file.. researching it and may try to load XP SP 3 again to fix the windows issue... Any other suggestions? Thanks

Removed all my previous versions and installed X4 to the default C:mcamx When I try to run the program I get a error window as the splash screen starts to display. ".exe not valid" I have removed, repaired, re-installed,rebooted and such... still get the error. Downloaded the MU2 update ... same error. Running WinXp sp3 and sims is current. Any suggestions? Thanks

OK, is there any other fix for importing 3D objects to be milled pending the MR release?

Do we have a date on the MR release fot x3 to fix the problem of bringing in Inventor ipt files into X3? All our work is in Inventor so it is causing problems. Seems X3 has aligned itself with Solid Works and Inventor is aligned with Gibbs Cam. Or we gonna wait for Obama and the gov to bail us out. Thanks

I am having problems with X3 and X2MR2Sp1 opening either Inventor 2008 Pro or Inventor 2009 Pro files as IPT type files. When I convert them to IGES or STP then there are other issues. I am using Inventor software and there for do/can not load the Inventor View software. Any fix or is this a bug? Thanks

Link to a article in American Machinist. Hmmm, "X3, So easy to use a 6 year old can create a toolpath in less than a minute". I reckon there is hope for me yet http://www.americanmachinist.com/304/Issue...lse/80872/Issue

On-Line definition Computer Desktop Encyclopedia: beta test A test of new or revised hardware or software that is performed by users at their facilities under normal operating conditions. Beta testing follows alpha testing. Vendors of packaged software often offer their customers the opportunity of beta testing new releases or versions, and the beta testing of elaborate products such as operating systems can take months Me, I am a beta user. I only use the software part time. Every time I try to import a part, put a tool path to it... I get tested. The software has its limitaions... It cant teach me fast enough to over come my lack of experience. JK. However, with some on line training, books and this forum I make a little progress. Newbies and old pros alike will add good ideas to the overall useability of the final product. Thanks to all the Beta testers,Alpha testers, and designers of the software I can produce a toolpath for a machine that looks trick and impressing those who dont know the real secret.... It aint me.. its the software. As always..I love this place and the various views...now If I could just get that pesky post for the software I didnt pay for then......

I have a 1/2 thick plate, 8X8 inches. I have a 36.5 inch radius cut into one end of the plate the thickness of the plate along the 8 inch side. I am trying to follow a weld bevel 37 degrees half the thickness of the plate. I use flowline and a 1/2 ball mill. During verify it apprears I need to extend my toolpath slightly to remove a slight cusp the mill leaves. What is the best way to extend the tool path in finishing with flowline. Couldnt find a tutorial on Streaming Teacher or in any of my MasterCam resources. X2MR2 SP1 modeled in Inventor 2008 Prof. Thanks

The mill specs dont really always seem the same when you go to cutting the L grade. My past experience the L is usually same as or a little easier. Of course.... repeatability between bar composition seems to have room for improvement.

Pete, Thanks but one of the Tech guys at CNC (Tom) sent me a email today with the instructions and the dll file. I will try the .dll file in the morning and that should fix the problem. Thanks

I have loaded all the latest upgrades for both products. When I open Inventor part I get 6 instances of MC direct in the tool bar at the top. Inventor folks say it is a MC problem and need to uninstall MC direct and then reinstall it. Problem is I cant seem to find how to just uninstall MC direct.

My issue is I dont use Solid Works. I use and yes like Inventor 2008 Prof. What not extend the reverse application to Inventor along with Solid Works. I have an icon in Inventor that pulls up a session of MasterCam X2MR2 but... wouldnt it be neat to tool path from the design program? Of course now I do most of my drawings in Inventor and then pull them into MC.

Thanks I will give it a try